Mary Rose, St. Mary Cray

pub details:

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location:

St. Mary Cray

address:

36-50 High Street, BR5 3NJ

phone:

0871 258 7701*
* calls cost 10p/minute, click here for more about 0871 numbers.

nearest station:

St. Mary Cray railway station
(610m)

bus routes:

R4, R6

how to find it:

Leave the station on the north side and turn right on Station Approach, following the grim pathway down to the main road. Cross Cray Avenue and then turn left, before taking the first right into Station Road. Turn right again into Mill Brook Road and walk down for a minute or two - the pub's on your left.

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The Mary Rose is a strange establishment. It's a 16th century inn stranded in the Cray Valley, largely refurbished and extended nowadays but still bearing a few traces of its history. Situated on the narrow, very Kentish, High Street in St. Mary Cray, this hotel reminded us of that Norman Bates line in Psycho, "they moved away the highway". We were stumped to imagine who might occupy the 42 rooms here, let alone the bridal, executive or Jacuzzi suites. A friendly lady behind the bar couldn't offer draught real ales but we were taken by Mackeson's Stout and Young's Light Ale in bottles. It's important to note that the bar is residents-only after 6.30pm. Timbered beams and the chatter of locals made this a pleasant place for a drink or two. Unless you wish to sample the peculiar 'not London but not Kent' environs of St. Mary Cray, you won't lose sleep if you just read this review, shrug your shoulders and get on with your life.

reviewed:
4/4/2006